Eskilstuna: Culture, Waterways and Discoveries

Eskilstuna combines Swedish industrial history, historic urban areas and a variety of paths along the water. Anyone planning a trip with culture, activity and discoveries for the whole family will find a range of ways to spend their days here: from a blacksmithing course and museum visit to the 20-kilometre route along the Eskilstunaån. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Eskilstuna, you can therefore first consider whether museums, urban history, cycling, walks or experiences with children should be the focus.

Industrial History, Art and Historic Cityscapes

Rademachersmedjorna is one of Sweden’s best-preserved complexes from the 17th century. At Jutemarks Smide, visitors can book a blacksmithing course there to try their hand at the craft. This makes the historic site not only a place to look around, but also an opportunity to experience traditional craftsmanship in practice.

The Munktell Museum presents more than 190 years of Swedish industrial history. Visitors may sit in historic vehicles, use a VR headset to try driving a dump truck in a quarry and operate a mini excavator. The Eskilstuna Art Museum’s collection spans from the 17th century to the present day. It consists primarily of Nordic and Northern European art, with a focus on 20th-century Swedish painting. Guided tours of current exhibitions complement the visit.

Gamla Staden is one of Eskilstuna’s oldest and best-preserved areas. The historic character is particularly vivid along the cobbled Köpmangatan, which is lined with cultural buildings from the 18th century and runs alongside the river. This allows you to combine a city walk with architecture, history and a waterside route without limiting the day to a single museum.

Paths for Walks, Bike Rides and Paddling

Åstråket is a 20-kilometre walking trail along the Eskilstunaån from Skjulsta in the south to Ängsholmen in the north. The route can also be used for cycling and paddling. This provides a longer, linear route for planning your day, while Lejonrundan, at 14 kilometres, is a family-friendly cycling route through varied natural surroundings and Eskilstuna city centre. Depending on your preferred pace, you can therefore choose an extended waterside route or a designated cycling trail combining natural and urban impressions.

Discoveries for Children and Adults

Eskilstuna City Museum is a museum for all age groups and presents exhibitions on the history of Eskilstuna. In the Faktotum experience room, children and adults can independently conduct experiments involving magnetism, electricity and centrifugal force. At Lilla Zoo in Parken Zoo, visitors can get close to farm animals such as sheep, goats, miniature pigs, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. These activities work well for combining different interests within a family: here, hands-on experimentation is the focus, while elsewhere it is encounters with animals or urban history.

An unusual addition is the Utedassmuseet, Sörmland’s only outhouse museum. Special destinations like this give a trip its own distinctive character alongside the larger museums.

Other Destinations in the Immediate Area

In the immediate area, ReTuna Återbruksgalleria is about an 8-minute drive from the centre of Eskilstuna. It is considered the world’s first reuse gallery; only reused, recycled, ecological or sustainably produced goods are sold there. Skjulstabastun is also located nearby, about 4 km from Fristadstorget. It has a large and a small sauna, as well as its own jetty. Destinations like these expand your travel plans with sustainable discoveries and time out by the water.

When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore weigh up a culture-focused stay, active days on paths and routes, and varied family experiences. You can find more places for planning your trip at Stora Sundby, Näshulta, Ärla, Västra Näshulta and Kvicksund.

For the higher-level travel overview: Eskilstuna.